Mealirs for preserving



on'rrnn srr' CORNELIUS '1. EVANS, OF AMERICUS, KANSAS.

MEANS FOR PBESERVING.

raoasia Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented May 13, 1919.

Application filed December 19, 1917. Serial No. 207,906.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CORNELIUS Ti EVANS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Arnericus, in the county ofLyon and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Means for Preserving, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in preserving and it isan object of the invention to provide a means for preserving tubers suchas sweet potatoes or other vegetables and it is an object of theinvention to provide a novel and improved means for preserving whichincludes a substantially inclosed housing in which are ar rangedreceptacles for containing the vegetables or the like and whichreceptacles are constructed in a manner to permit the passage of heatupwardly therethrough and wherein the lower portion of the housing isprovided with a compartment to contain a heat generating unit.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved meansfor preserving whereby certain important advantages are attained and thedevice rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenientand advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to de scribe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation with a cabinet as embodied in my presentinvention; a.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the cabinet with the swinging doors inan open position and shown in fragment;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1with the receptacles or crates omitted; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the deviceas herein illustrated.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings C denotes a cabinet of anydesired configuration and dimensions and which affords a substantiallyinclosed housing, and the,

front face of said cabinet is provided with a pair of horizontallyswinging doors 2 which are adapted to be maintained in closed posit-ionin any desired manner, but prefer ably through the medium of aconventional type of look as indicated at 3. The walls and doors 2 ofthe cabinet are imperforate.

The lower portion of the interior or chamber of the cabinet isintersected by the substantially horizontally disposed shelf S whichincludes a plurality of separated slats 4: affording openings 5therebetween through which heated air may pass upwardly through thecabinet for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly referred to.The compartment A below the shelf S has positioned therein a heatingunit U of any desired type and which is caused to burn with a very lowflame.

Supported by the shelf S and stacked upon themselves are the receptaclesor crates R which substantially entirely fill the compartment B withinthe cabinet 0. The ends 6 of each of the receptacles or crates R areimperforate while the sides and bottom thereof comprise a plurality ofseparated slats or strips 7 affording openings or spaces 8 therebetweenfor the circulation of heat.

The forward end 6 of each of the receptacles or crates R is providedwiththe door 9 so that convenient access may be hadthereto.

My present invention particularly relates to the preservation of sweetpotatoes or other tubers and just after the digging of such potatoesthey are placed within the receptacles or crates R and the doors 2 aremaintained in open position for a period of between two and three weeks.The doors 2 are then closed and when the seasonal temperature approachesfreezing point, the heating unit U is caused to operate. By this meansit has been fully demonstrated in actual practice that the sweetpotatoes or the like may be preserved for a protracted period of time.Attention is particularly directed to the fact that the heating unit Ugives off a very low percentage of heat yet this heat, which passes upthrough the receptacles or crates R, is confined within the cabinet Gand effectually serves to prevent freezing of the tubers and to free thesame of moisture.

The cabinet C is adapted to be arranged within the kitchen or other roomand in order to facilitate the moving of the cabinet as desired, Iprovide the same With supporting Wheels or casters 10.

, In order that the temperature Within the cabinet C may be readilydetermined, I suitably position therein a thermometer T- of any ordinaryor preferred type.

From the foregoing description it is to be noted that a means forpreserving tubers or the like in. accordance With my invention is of anextremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and isparticularly Well adapted for use by reason of the convenience andfacility with which it may be employed.

I claim:

Means for preserving tubers or the like consisting of an inclosedchamber, a shelf intersecting said chamber and provided with openings, aheating unit positioned Within the chamber below the shelf, andreceptacles supported upon the shelf and adapted to contain tubers orthe like, the sides and bottoms of each of said receptacles beingprovided With openings, said receptacles being arranged in series, thereceptacles of one series being mounted one upon the other, an end ofeach of the receptacles being provided With a door whereby access to onereceptacle may be had independently of the remaining receptacles.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftWo Witnesses.

CORNELIUS T. EVANS. Witnesses:

W. W. NORRIS,

Copies. of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0.

